PRESIDENT David Granger Wednesday afternoon named Mabaruma as the country’s economic powerhouse and with Local Government Elections (LGE) on the horizon, the Head of State listed several priorities for the soon-to-be-established Mabaruma Town Council, including the education of children.

The President, who was on his first visit to the North-West District administrative capital since assuming the presidency, touched down in Mabaruma shortly after 4 pm yesterday and was

accompanied by Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman; Minister within the Ministry of Communities,Dawn Hastings; Minister within the Ministry of Health, Karen Cummings, was already on the ground to greet the President and other officials.
“You have the economy of this country in your hands, because Mabaruma can produce food for all of Guyana,” the President told a large responsive crowd at the recreational park in the North-West District community. He said that the region has the capability of supplying food for export to Caricom neighbour Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. ”You are an economic powerhouse and we want you to tell us in central Government… to tell us what you need to unleash that potential”, the President told the gathering who sat and stood along the rubber walk outside the recreational park.
“No longer will anybody sit down in Fort Street, Kingston and decide what is best for you, no more should the central Government overrule your decisions, but you in your constituency will be able to decide what is best for you,” he said. The President noted that democracy will open the door to development of the residents and their children, as he made reference to next week’s LGE elections.
Noting that Mabaruma is one of the older communities in the hinterland, the Head of State told the gathering that the hill-top community should have been a town before several of the current townships. He added: “you have everything that a town needs.” He said that the community has been in a state of backwardness, with no form of development. This will end next weekend at the LGE polls, he said, noting that the residents’ votes will put them in a position of control over the constituencies in which they live. He said that the community has a number of responsibilities to make the community a leading town, with the advent of LGEs.

The President said that the residents, regardless of where they live in the region, will be able to take to the table “their personal experiences and personal desires to bring about a change in this great region.” He told the residents that the Barima/Waini is four times the size of neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, but he noted that the region has been unable to unlock its full potential, noting that the decisions for the community have been decided by central Government in the capital city , for years.
He said that the region has the potential,the opportunity and the services for development are available there. “Because every single thing that you need in this region you can produce”, he told residents. “You have gold and diamond in this region, you have timber, tourism”, he said, but he noted that the previous administration did little, such as overseeing the continued operation of the aged Lady Northcote ferry. He said the vessel is incapable of supplying the needs of the region.
The President said the government would like to see the sub-region opening up to trade and investment and the manufacturing sector. ”We want to see a strong region, we want to see businessmen coming in from Trinidad and Barbados and Suriname, flying into an aerodrome here, an international airport at Mabaruma , making deals to buy your produce.” The President said that there is need for infrastructural development in the region, including the establishment of road networks linking Mabaruma with Moruca and Port Kaituma.
“I have a dream too that one day you and your children would get into a car right here in Mabaruma and drive all the way to Achiwib” the President added, noting that the region cannot develop without infrastructure. He said that the sub-region must become a powerful capital with medical and educational facilities, including an agricultural school at Hosororo Hill. To this end, he implored youths to enter the agro-processing sector. He said factories and restaurants are ideal for the region, as well as a thriving business sector in the business hub at Kumaka.
He said that he knows some persons did not support the government, but according to him, persons should think of themselves as residents of the Barima /Waini and as citizens of the soon-to-be-

established town.
Electricity
Mabaruma and its connecting communities have been receiving six hours of electricity each night from 5 pm and the President noted that there is no reason why this should have been happening, as he questioned how the community will be able to run its enterprises without power. To this end, the Head of State promoted the establishment of renewable energy sources, such as solar and hydro power. ”So that you can get cheap and green electricity.“
As regards the children, the Head of State noted that the government, from the inception, has been supportive of children and their educational future. To this he said that the three B’s initiative, the bus, bicycles and books, has taken effect across the county. ”We want every child to go to school”, he said, as he noted the arduous distances by water and roads many children have to travel to reach to school. He said children no longer will drop out of school, but will be supported by the government, to ensure that the communities are educated. The President was greeted by a large crowd on arrival at the Broomes Air Field at Mabaruma. He greeted and interacted briefly with eager supporters who gathered to witness his arrival. He was expected to travel back to the capital city this morning.